Sophie Conran’s guide to experimenting with colour

9 min read

Last Modified 12 November 2025 First Added 12 November 2025

Step into a world of vibrant colours with Sophie Conran, where every hue holds a little magic, and your bedroom becomes a canvas for creativity, self-expression and joy. 

In this article, our design partner, Sophie Conran, shares her love for using dynamic colour palettes and colourful furniture pieces that make a statement. We’ll explore Sophie’s beliefs around why experimenting with colour is beneficial for the soul and how the right shades can lift our moods.  

We’ll also share Sophie’s tips and tricks on how to play with pigments in different ways, from your walls and foundations, to investing in signature furniture pieces, and thoughtful finishing touches.   

With Sophie’s help, we’ll show you our favourite bedroom colour ideas, along with all the right tools, to give you the courage to experiment with a kaleidoscope of colours in your own bedroom design.  

Paint brushes at the ready! The rainbow is loading… 

Sophie Conran Celeste divan and headboard in Ivory Wildwood

The joy of experimenting with colours

“In the home, colour is a quiet storyteller, setting the tone for how you live in each space.”

Sophie Conran, Dreams’ design partner

Why do colours make us feel so good? Sophie explains: “I think colour is essential, it is one of the easiest ways to create an atmosphere. The right colour can make you feel calm, energisednostalgic, or inspired. It is deeply personal too, a shade that feels joyful to one person might feel overwhelming to another. We all have our favourite colours and I like to keep the open-minded attitude of a child towards colour as it can really make a room feel special and bring depth and interest.” 

Colours and mood

The shades we choose to surround ourselves with can have an immense impact on our moods, lifting our spirits or calming our minds. For Sophie, colour is deeply personal, connected to emotions and nostalgia, which is why it’s so important to get colour right in the bedroom:  

“Colour has such a powerful effect on mood. A sunny yellow always lifts my spirits; it reminds me of the kitchen in one of my childhood homes where the morning light would stream in and make everything glow. Deep greens like the gorgeous velvety fabric on the Mira bed make me feel grounded and safe, like walking through a quiet wood after rain. In bedrooms, I think colour can be a form of comfort.” 

Get the look:

The Mira bed

Sophie Conran Mira ottoman bed in Olive
Sophie Conran Mira Upholstered Ottoman Bed Frame

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Sophie Conran Mira Upholstered Ottoman Bed Frame

Introducing the Mira bed, a squishy, marshmallow-esque bed frame, available in a choice of olive green or seafoam blue, designed by Sophie exclusively for Dreams. In Sophie’s words, the Mira feels like “a gentle cocoon, soft and embracing; the perfect place to let go.”  

Finding your colours

“When we’re children, our favourite colour is a really important part of our personality. When we get older, we lose that. We think we have to be sensible, but we don’t.”

Sophie Conran, Dreams’ design partner 

So, how do we decide on the right colours for our grown-up bedrooms? Well, Sophie suggests paying attention to how colours make you feel. 

Sophie Conran Celeste divan bed in Blush Ivory stripe

She says: “Spend time in the room at different times of day, because light changes throughout the day and depending on which way the room is facing.

“Northern light is very different to the light from the south, etc. In an east-facing room, you will get the glory of the morning sun, and in the west, you will enjoy the sunset. A colour that feels warm and inviting in the morning might feel heavy at night, and vice versa.  

“Also, think about how you want to feel in the space, do you want it to be energising or restful? That will guide you towards the right tone. And trust your instincts. If a colour makes you smile every time you see it, that is the one for you.” 

Remember, colour isn’t just for the maximalists! It doesn’t have to be all punchy pigments and dramatic, dark shades. When done with purpose, a colourful bedroom design can feel calm, comforting, and just as relaxing as a space with four white walls.

How to design a room with colourful furniture

“Furniture is such an interesting way to introduce colour because it brings the tone into the room in a more unexpected way.”

Sophie Conran, Dreams’ design partner

Sophie Conran with the Seraphine bed and Lulabelle storage pouffe in Olive
Sophie Conran Seraphine Upholstered Ottoman Bed Frame

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Sophie Conran Seraphine Upholstered Ottoman Bed Frame
Sophie Conran Lulabelle Upholstered Storage Pouffe

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Sophie Conran Lulabelle Upholstered Storage Pouffe

Colourful furniture is something many of us dream of having but are scared of committing to. Luckily, this is our design partner’s forte. So, if you’ve ever been tempted by a bright bed frame or statement chair, but worried it might overpower your space, Sophie has some advice: 

“In my collection with Dreams, I have chosen colours inspired by nature, muted blues, leafy greens, warm neutrals, because they work so harmoniously with other elements in a bedroom. They also feel timeless – a coloured bed can be as classic as a neutral one if the shade is right. 

Sophie Conran Mira ottoman bed in Olive
Sophie Conran Mira Upholstered Ottoman Bed Frame

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Sophie Conran Mira Upholstered Ottoman Bed Frame

“The inspiration came from both the landscapes I love and from fabrics and ceramics I have collected over the years; pieces where the colour has a richness and depth that only becomes more beautiful with time.”  

As Sophie says, the key is to treat your furniture as part of your wider colour palette and pick a tone that fits seamlessly with the rest of your room. By choosing soft, natural shades like dusty blue or mossy green, you can bring some warmth and intrigue to your design, without going over the top. These tones don’t shout, they soothe, bringing personality without disrupting the peace of your sleep space.  

Playing with colourful accessories

We asked Sophie what advice she would give to someone nervous about experimenting with colour in their home. She reminded us that you don’t have to go “all-in” to make a big impact. In fact, accessories are a fantastic way to dip your toes into the world of colour: 

“Start small. You do not have to paint the whole room. Try adding a coloured throw to your bed, a patterned cushion, or even fresh flowers in a particular hue. Live with it for a while and see how it feels. Often, once you start, you will realise how much joy it can bring, and you might feel braver about taking a bigger leap.” 

Get the look:  

The Celeste bed in Blush Ivory stripe, coming soon

Sophie Conran Celeste divan bed in Blush Ivory stripe

“With a piece like the Celeste bed, you can pull out the colours and use them for accessories. You might find a colour to bring out in the walls, lampshades, or carpet. You’ve already got your colour palette, so it’s great to work outwards from there.” 

Sophie’s favourite colourful bedroom ideas 

Feeling inspired to inject some colour into your room? Here are our design partner’s three favourite bedroom colour schemes to give you a taste of how she’d bring each one to life…  

1. Soft earthy greens with cream and pink

Sophie Conran Seraphine bed and Pillowrest blanket box in Olive
Sophie Conran Pillowrest Upholstered Blanket Box

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Sophie Conran Pillowrest Upholstered Blanket Box
Sophie Conran Seraphine Upholstered Ottoman Bed Frame

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Sophie Conran Seraphine Upholstered Ottoman Bed Frame

For a calm yet fresh bedroom design, Sophie suggests introducing earthy greenssoft cream and gentle touches of pink. Using green as a base is a popular choice for the bedroom, and for good reason! It brings a calming, grounding energy to any room and is incredibly versatile, so you can pair it with a vast range of hues.

2. Deep inky blue with warm neutrals 

Sophie Conran Mira ottoman bed in blue
Sophie Conran Mira Upholstered Ottoman Bed Frame

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Sophie Conran Mira Upholstered Ottoman Bed Frame

If you prefer a snug feel for your bedroom, Sophie recommends starting with a deeper base, such as a deep, inky blue. This rich shade creates a cocooning foundation – just like twilight wrapping around your room. Meanwhile, the warm neutrals, such as beige, sand, oat or caramel, bring that much-needed cosiness. This dreamy pairing is full of drama and comfort, ideal for hunkering down as the seasons shift.  

Sophie says: “Vintage pieces work well with an inky blue and neutral colour palette. You can use the blue-on-blue stripe of the Celeste bed for a more masculine feel. It’s almost a neutral in that it’s incredibly versatile. A seaside or coastal-inspired look springs to mind, something airy. With those colours, layering in different textures is always great. Introduce fabrics like wool, something really cosy.” 

Get the look:  

The Celeste bed in Navy Marine stripe, coming soon

Sophie Conran Celeste divan bed in Navy Marine stripe

3. Pale pink with warm reds, oranges and a hint of gold 

Sophie Conran Celeste divan and headboard in Ivory Wildwood floral print

To dial up the warmth in your sleep space, Sophie suggests a rich colour palette of pinksreds, and oranges. The result is a radiant, uplifting palette that’s inviting and full of life. Think of a sunset melting across your walls from your favourite summer holiday. You could even add a whisper of gold for a dose of elegant luxury. It’s a colour combination that feels truly joyful, perfect for creating a bedroom that glows with personality.

“In a pale pink and warm-toned bedroom, the Celeste Bed in Ivory Wildwood would work incredibly well. The deep green tones of the Mira Bed would also look great. It feels more feminine and opulent, and I imagine more upholstery and curtains and tassels. You could truly get carried away!” 

Sophie Conran Celeste headboard in Ivory Wildwood floral print

Sophie's tips on colour combinations 

“If you allow yourself to mix colours and patterns together, it can feel like being wrapped in a warm hug every time you walk into the room, just like a patchwork quilt.”

Sophie Conran, Dreams’ design partner

Sophie Conran with a moodboard of fabric and colour swatches

When it comes to pairing colour combinations, Sophie draws inspiration straight from the great outdoors. Looking to nature is always a good idea, she shares, because there are endless possibilities, full of beauty, balance and a touch of the unexpected: 

“I love deep green with light pink. It is a pairing you often find in nature, think of rose petals against foliage, and it always feels balanced to me, with the green grounding the pink and the pink bringing a softness to the green.” 

Colour’s immense influence on our mood makes it an important consideration for the bedroom – a space dedicated to helping us unwind, switch off and awaken refreshed.  By experimenting with Sophie’s colourful bedroom ideas, you can create a hue-filled sleep sanctuary that’s saturated with storytelling and full of personal charm.  

Feeling inspired to sleep beautifully?

Shop Sophie’s exclusive Dreams collection: